Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)

Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) testing is a growing area of materials testing, driven in particular by increasing demand from the aerospace, automotive and power generation industries. ISO 12016 and ASTM E606 specify the standard practice for strain controlled fatigue testing, used for simulating mechanical loading into the plastic region. This testing is typically carried out at very high temperatures to replicate the service conditions experienced by turbine blades in both gas turbines and jet engines.

Whilst the load string and heating technology are a crucial part of any LCF testing system, Instron also has two fundamentally different actuator technologies for you to consider. Most fatigue testing systems are hydraulically powered and deliver the high dynamic performance required to reduce the time taken to complete lengthy high cycle fatigue tests. In the case of LCF, testing is typically run at very slow speeds and precision strain control is more important that running at high frequencies. As well as offering a traditional hydraulic technology for LCF, Instron offers a unique servo-electric actuator which is ideally suited to the challenges of LCF. Choosing Instron’s servo-electric technology will reduce the infrastructure requirements of your new machine and minimize your running costs. Whichever solution is best suited to your needs, Instron will supply a load frame with high lateral and axial stiffness and a precision alignment fixture to meet the demands of your LCF testing.

Instron acknowledge that the demands of LCF testing are very different to that of a ‘general purpose’ test machine and we design our software tools accordingly. Specialist LCF3 software makes it easy to carry out complex tests and get the results you need first time, every time; with automated calculations, real time data views and powerful post-processing built in.

The 2527 Series load cells are designed for use with Dynamic Testing Systems; offering exceptional performance with the ability to measure forces as low as 1/250th of the force capacity to an accuracy of 0.5% of reading. Automatic transducer recognition and electrical calibration, makes them easy to use. The load cells can withstand loads up to 150% of their force capacity without damage and 300% without mechanical failure. All Instron load cells are individually temperature-compensated and tested for accuracy and repeatability on calibration apparatus that is traceable to international standards, with a measurement uncertainty that does not exceed one-third of the permissible error of the load cell.

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